The Scryer ✔️

~Epilogue~

The sun was rising as John snored quietly. I was up with the baby, nursing him when I heard a tiny knock on the door. The door opened and Alexander barely stuck his head inside only for Chewy to push the door open, paving the way for the twins to run in and climb on the bed, bouncing on their father, waking him.

John sat up, his eyes still closed and he grabbed at the boys, one in each arm and pulled them back down with him and they giggled as they all snuggled beneath the blankets.

I looked back toward the dog by my side, resting his chin on the mattress, staring holes in me. I sighed and looked toward my oldest as he stood unhappily at the door.

"It's Saturday and they want pancakes. I'm not allowed to use the stove by myself and we don't have any more microwave ones..."

I nodded and yawned. I pulled my hand from under the blankets and signed as best as I could, which was sloppy using only one hand, "Right. Okay. I'll come down when Matty's done. Okay?"

He frowned and nodded and turned to leave and I asked the dog to fetch Alexander. He stopped and turned around when Chewy grabbed at his shirt.

"Hey," I signed. "I love you..." I said as I crossed my eyes and made a face and he smiled and signed that he loved me too.

"Oh! Can I make cinaminaminy toast? I'll be careful! Pleeeeeze...? He looked hopeful.

I smiled and nodded my head. "Yeah." I felt elated when his face lit up.

Clean up your mess please, I signed.

He nodded happily and yelled out, YOOHOO as he hopped down the stairs.

"I guess that's my cue to get the coffee started, huh?"

"Give him a few minutes. If you go down now..."

John nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

We both stiffened up when we heard the telephone ring...it was only seven in the morning on a Saturday. John reached over and picked up the receiver. "Hello. Oh hey, what's up....Yeah I'm awake, barely. Let me see if I can sit up. No, we're not busy. I just happen to be covered in toddlers...What? Yes, we're still in bed. The boys are up though...what's that?" He covered the receiver. "It's Chris. He's at the door."

"Why...." I whined.

"Boss lady wants to know why you're here at this unholy hour...you did what?" He turned to me. "He brought over an automated mower for us to try out..."

"How automated..."

John laughed. "He's laughing because he heard you...Naw man. Not even radio controlled. Besides, I happen to like my little push mower and her little pygmy goats do the rest. Besides, if I don't feel like it, Alex does it for me and it's something he can handle so its all good...that's why one has kids anyway...to do the chores. It's the Amish way, didn't you know that?"

"Thank you, though Chris! We love you..."

"I'll be down in a few minutes to put on the coffee...Gotta give Little Man a few minutes to hopefully not burn some toast...yeah...yeah...Gimmie about ten minutes, okay?"

He hung up the receiver then let his body fall back to the bed with a thud and he groaned. I watched him close his eyes and sigh, then open them again and move the already sleeping twins toward the middle of the bed. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, then stretched.

"Hey, nice butt, Stolzie..."

He craned his neck look behind him. "Yeah? You like my butt, pretty lady?"